that he might not learn what was going on till some definite action had been taken. But when Altamirano and Salazar without delay came on from Lisbon, the emperor was still further mollified, although the letters and treasures brought by them were seized. Just then, too, Pedro de Alvarado arrived at Seville, and was ordered to court post-haste, and Charles, well pleased at the coming of a person so competent to give an account of affairs in New Spain, as well as desirous of knowing what had taken place in Guatemala, further postponed definite action.[1] The narrations of Altamirano and Salazar, supplemented by the account of Alvarado, who declared that Cortés would come to Spain at the least intimation of the emperor's wish, caused the tide to turn in his favor. It was shown that he had conducted himself obediently and modestly during the government of Ponce, as well as since that time, and that he had suffered many indignities at the hand of Estrada. This was additional cause for action, and the appointment of a president for the new audiencia now engrossed the emperor's attention.
The case was urgent, and the man to be appointed was to hold office only until such time as it should be determined what was to be done with Cortés. Owing to these considerations the choice was not made with very great care, the post being given to Nuño de Guzman, governor of Pánuco. Since his arrival in America Guzman had been busy trying to enlarge his
- ↑ Accepting the testimony of Gonzalo Mejía, the treasurer accused Alvarado of fraudulently retaining treasure belonging to the crown to the amount of 100,000 pesos, besides which several charges of malfeasance in office were brought against him. He was ordered, therefore, to give bonds to submit to a residencia and to pay any damages in which he might be mulcted, or to have his estate sequestered to the amount of 15,000 ducats. Herrera, dec. iv. lib. ii. cap. i. But, favored by Cobos, partly because of the marriage arranged between him and Francisca de la Cueva, he was given the government of Guatemala — which, in accordance with the policy that sought to limit the size of colonial dependencies, was made independent of New Spain. His sequestered property was released, his repartimiento confirmed, his residencia put aside, and, accompanied by his bride and a brilliant staff of officers, he sailed for America. Id., dec. iv. lib. ii. cap. ii. See Hist. Cent. Am., u., this series, for full account.
